NAF, police launch manhunt for killers of airman in Bayelsa

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the police in Bayelsa State have launched a manhunt for the killers of an airman on Sunday in the state.

It was gathered that the personnel was killed when the armed men attacked a helipad belonging to the NAF at Gbogene community in Yenagoa, in the state.

While confirming the attack and killing of the airman during a shootout with the gunmen in a statement issued yesterday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Communication, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Adesanya said the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, as a group of gunmen attacked the guard post at NAF Helipad.

The statement reads: “Although the NAF personnel on duty were able to repel the attack, an airman paid the supreme sacrifice in the process.”

Also, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah, confirmed the incident during a briefing with newsmen on Monday.

He said though the Air Force has their internal mechanism to investigate the crime, the command will assist in unraveling the suspects and bringing them to book. It was gathered that the gunmen, who reportedly scaled the fence of the helipad, were said to have made away with the rifle of their victim.

Daily Trust reports that the helicopter landing site at Igbogene is surrounded by overgrown vegetation and trees, a situation sources said that made it an easy target for the attack.

The Igbogene helipad is a preferred landing site for high-profile visitors to Bayelsa including security chiefs.